Two nuclear power plant disasters from the Cold War live in our collective memory—Chernobyl in 1989 and Three Mile Island in 1979. There was also Fukushima more recently but that wasn’t an issue that rose from human error, quite the contrary, it was an exhibition of human courage when Japanese Read more
The museum in state capital Harrisburg is one of the few state museums in the northeast that aren’t free. It’s just across the street from the Pennsylvania State Capitol so hold on to your ticket in case you need to come back after a capitol tour. I recommend starting from Read more
In state capital Harrisburg, Pennsylvania has one of the most ornate state capitols in the U.S. It is the third building on the site, the first burned down in a blizzard from heating coals, and the second was so ugly it was torn down before it was completed, the one Read more
The capital of Pennsylvania is boring. The State Capitol and State Museum are all it has going for it for tourists. You can find delicious food in the market made by Amish people, but more of them live in Lancaster’s farms, not Harrisburg. Hershey just northeast of Harrisburg is home Read more
This is America’s first Amish museum established in 1956. It’s east of Lancaster deep in Pennsylvania’s Amish country. The region also has Quaker and Mennonite families. There are now 43,000 Amish people in Lancaster County, out of 370,000 in the world. Over 40% of the state’s revenue comes from dairy Read more
Many Swiss and Germans immigrated to Pennsylvania staying in the heartland and planting native wheat and corn for sustenance in the 17th century. They escaped religious persecution in Europe for their Anabaptist beliefs. Pennsylvania became known for thrifty farmers, German beer, and accurate clocks. By the 18th century, there were Read more
Lancaster was the state capitol for a short while from 1799 to 1812 after Philadelphia and preceding Harrisburg today. Included in William Penn’s original land grant in 1681, it is one of the oldest inland cities in America incorporated in 1742. It was also the U.S. capital for one day Read more
After you er learned all about the company’s history at the Hershey Story Museum, it’s time to reward yourself with a trip to a chocolate theme park. Always tell the person at the gate you’re going to chocolate world so you get to park closer because you can always just Read more
Milton Hershey opened his first business selling confectionary, fruits and nuts in Philadelphia when he was 18, coinciding with the 1876 Centennial Exposition. However, he didn’t see success and went bankrupt in 1882 after his father joined his business and then left him to pay the bills. He finally got Read more
Jersey City lives in the shadow of New York City, but it does have some important sights often attributed to New York. I’ve been to the area four times in six months so I know some of the best spots to see the Big Apple’s skyline—Exchange Place is always a Read more